The U.S. position got a key endorsement this week from the New York-based Human Right Foundation, a nonprofit group that was deeply involved in analyzing the Honduran coup for the OAS and was quite critical of the State Department back then.

"What just happened in Paraguay is not, in any way, what took place in Honduras almost three years ago," said Javier El-Hage, the foundation's legal director. He said the new Paraguayan government should be fully recognized.

"President Lugo was removed legally through an impeachment trial, carried out on vague but legitimate and constitutional grounds. Principle, rather than politics, should guide the judgment of the OAS and others in the international community."